Timer construction



Dec. 15, 1953 K. K. NEUMANN 2,662,595

TIMER CONSTRUCTION Filed July 6, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 15, 1953 K.K. NEUMANN TIMER CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 6, 1946INVENTOR. /zer NEM/774,7.

BY Mz; Yf-

Patented Dec. 15, 1953 ,'rIMnn ooNsTRUc'rIoN Kurt'K; Neumann,AnnArbor,Mich;, assignortto King-Seeleyv Corporation, Ann Arbor, Mich.,.a

corporation of Michigan Application July 6, 1946, Serial No. 681,740

-The presentinvention relates to 'timersof the type-'which are usedtotim'e the cycleiof operationof anyapparatus such as a stove; washingmachine, or the like, and'whic-h are operative either to initiateorterminateanfoperatingcycle after a predetermined 'time interval 'orvto actuate the signal device for theguidance ofthe operator. fOneof'theobjects -of'the present inventi'onlis t'-provide, in'a' timerA of thetypelmentioned, an improved -signal actuator cocking and trippingmechanism. f 1' Another objectis to-provide an improved'cocklng andtrippin'g-1mechanism lwhich Arelieves'- the main`a-1'bor-of'-the timer,of the-friction-alv-load incidenttoholding the vactuator in cockedpositionf' 'Another object of the f-inventi'on sto provide; in amechanismof the typementionedimproted means for'rendering-thetimingmechanism inoperative in one position of the arbor.` A' further'object is? to provide'- anvimproved construction in 'which all of theOperating elements-;are enclosed within casng means Vsealing themagainst dirt-andforeign matter. vAnother'object is'to provide,- inatimer havingan'adjustable balance staff bearing andimproved means =formaintaining said bearing in adjusted positionr e Other vobjects andadvantages of the inventi'on will becomeapparent from thefollowingspecification-,=the accompanying drawings, and the appendedlclaimsl In-the drawings:v Fig; 1-is-a1sectional view of the mechanism';

Fig `21isa-sectional -view'similar-'to-Figliiniv which parts are brokenaway to show 'the actuator and the hammer levermechanism; -f 1 Fig. 3 isa sectional view of' thestructureshown in Fig'l taken substantiallyalong the line 3-'--3"' thereof; 1 1 Figzfi is -a-rear vview'of thetimer-with thecasi-ng removed to-show the mechanism carried on the rearlside of -the rear -movement'platez V Figr is'a'fragmentary sectionalviewof= thev7 structure of Fig. V1 Vtaken substantially along the line'5-5=thereof; and I Pig-6 is a fragmentarysectional view-of! thestructure of Fig. 5 taken substantially alongthe line 6,-6 thereof. o iInasmuch as the typeof timer'to which the present' invention'relatesmay,to a large extent; be 'conventional in'constructon,A only'so-'much'0f=th`e details of' construction Mare shown-'as1` are necessary to'fullyunderstand theV features Aof improved timer 2 Claims. (Cl. 161-23)2 the present invention. For'further details of one suitable. type oftimer to which the present invention relat'es, reference may be hadtothe copending application of Rex C. Darnell, Serial No. 659;?64, filedApril 5, 1946, now Patent' No. 2571004.v It is sufficient to note herethat the mechanism ordinarily comprises a casing containing anysuitableform of clock mechanism mounted between a pair of movementplates in the usualmanner and aspring operated signal electrical'switchor both.

actuating device which is cocked when the timer is set to the desiredtiming cycle and which, when tripped, either rings'a bell or operates anInV the type of timer construction to which the present inventionrelates, the'main arbortof the clockwork is provided with a manualcontrol knob and the arrangement is such that when the arbor is rotatedin one direction from a zero or starting' position, the signal actuatoris cocked. The rate of return of the arbor to starting position isControlled by the clock mechanism, and the actuator is tripped uponreturn of the arbor to starting. position, thus Operating a signal, `an

' electrical switch or'iother suitable device.

Referring to Figures 1 Vandr3 of the drawings, thefmechanism of thepresent invention' is shown incorporated in a timer having: a clockmechanis'm'carried by and between a pair of movement, plates land 12.The clock mechanism includes a main arbor 14' suitably journaled' forrotation with respect to the movement plates. As in theconstructon ofthe above mentioned application of Rex C. Darnell, the present mechanismincludesa mounting plate IS, described int-greater detail therein, andwhich similarly provides thelfront -bearing for the'arbor [4; at thepoint indicated by thenumeral l', to relieve the movement plates ofstrains incident to'manual operation` of the arbor. The arbor [4' isconnected in the usual manner through a train of gears to a verge-typeescapement comprising an'escapement wheel 16, a verge arm 18, and' abalance Vwheel Z'carried by a balance staff 22. The ends of the balancewheel'staif V22 are tapered and'fitted into conical bearings in' abearing insert 24 carried by movement plate mand an ad'justable' plug 26which is threaded into a suitable' opening in theV movement plate |2,as'best shown in Figure 3. A main spring 28, shown in Figure 3,is-associated with the arbor '[4 and normall'y tends-to rotate the arborin a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figures 1 and 2,

associated gear train in the'usual manner.

As best shown in Figure 4, the adjustable plug 26 which carries thebearing for one end of the balance staff 22 is normally held againstrotation by a Wire spring 30, one end of which is secured to themovement plate |2 as by hooking a reversely turned portion thereof intoa peripheral notch 32 formed in the movement plate, and the other end ofwhich engages one of the posts 34 by which the movement plates areconnected together, to maintain an intermediate portion of the spring Sin engagement with the adjustable plug 25 and exert a suficient pressurethereon to substantially increase the frctional force resisting rotationof the plug. The pressure exerted by the spring 30 is such that thefrictional force may be readily overcome when it is desired to adjustthe plug 25, while at the same time the frictional force is sufiicientto prevent rotation of the plug as a result of the vibration incident tonormal operation of the timer and associated apparatus.

The mechanism of the timer which operates the signal or a Controlledswitch is best shown in Figures l, 2, and 3 and comprises a shaft 36which is journaled with respect to the movement plates ll and 12 and hasxed thereto a bell crank lever indicated generally at 38, and providedwith a pair of arms 4G and 42, best shown in Figure 2. As best seen inFigure 3, arm :iii is provided at its extremity with a stub shaft 44carrying a roller 45, which is normally urged inwardly toward the arborHi by means of a spring 48, shown best in Figures l and 2. The bellcrank 38 is positioned between the movement plates, but the pin 44projects through an arcuate slot 58 in the movement plate i and theroller 46 is located rearwardly of the latter movement plate in positionto cooperate with a cocking and trippingrmechanism, shown best in Figure4.

As there shown, the cocking and tripping mechanism comprises a latch 52which is pivotally mounted on the rear movement plate |2 by a pin 54 andwhich has a large elongated opening 56 centrally thereof adapted toloosely fit the rearwardly projecting end of the arbor Ill and permitlimited pivotal movement of the latch 52 about the pin Eli. The latch 52is urged in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Figure 4 by aspring 58 and has an upwardly projecting arm GE! adapted to engage theroller 46 carried by the arm lit of the bell crank 38. One side wall ofthe arm 8% has a portion 62 extending generally radially of the pin 54adapted to engage the roller 45 when it is in the start or trippedposition illustrated in full lines in Figure 4. A second wall portion 64is disposed generally at right angles to the wall portion 62 and adaptedto support the roller 46 when in the cocked positionillustrated inbroken lines at 66. A third wall portion B8 is adapted to cam the roller46 from the cocked position 66 to an overstop position illustrated inbroken lines at 10, upon pivotal movement of the latch 52 in acounterelockwise direction from the cocked position. The arm St is alsoprovided with a rearwardly projecting annular flange 'H for a purposehereinafter described.

The rearwardly projecting end of the arbor |4, extending through theopening 56 in the latch 52, carries a cam disc 12 having a generallyradially extending arm '14. One side wall 76 of this arm, affords asloping cam adapted to engage the roller lit and raise it from thetripped position to the cocked position indicated at 66, upon rotationof the arbor |4 vin a counterclock- Wise direction as viewed in Figure4. The oppo-T1 site side wall of the arm 14 carries an integrally formedinwardly turned flange 18 adapted to engage the rearwardly turned fiange7|, upon continued rotation of the arbor 14 in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in Figure 4, to pivot the latch 52 in acounterclockwise direction and raise the roller 46 to the over-stopposition indicated at 18.

When the roller 46 is raised to the over-stop position 'Ill a full windstop 8B which is mounted on the bell crank 38 engages the verge arm |8to interfere with the operation of the escapement mechanism and preventoperation of the timing mechanism in the manner more fully described inthe above identied co-pending application of Rex C. Darnell.

It is an important feature of the present invention that the abovedescribed cocking and tripping mechanism relieves the main arbor of thetimer of the frictional load incident to holding the actuator in cockedposition and aifords mechanical stops limiting rotation of the arborbeyond the over stop position, in one direction, and beyond the zero ortripping position in the other direction. In the present constructionthe load is carried by the movement plate |2 through the pin 54 and thelatch 52 and the mechanical stops are provided by the engagement of thearbor with the latch at the ends of the opening 56 as is more fullydescribed in connection with the following description of the operation.

The above described cocking and tripping mechanism operates in thefollowing manner. A control knob, not shown, which is mounted on thearbor Ill at the front of the timer mechanism, is rotated in a clockwisedirection as viewed from the front of the timer, thereby rotating thearbor M in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4. The camplate 12, which is secured to the arbor 14, is rotated in acounterclockwise direction raising the roller 46 along the cam surface13 to the cocked position indicated at 66. When the roller 46 is raisedclear of the wall portion 62, the latch 52 is pivoted in acounterclockwise direction by the spring 58 to a position in which theroller 46 is supported on the wall portion 64 of the latch. Rotation ofthe control knob in the same direction is continued until the desiredtime interval is set into the timer mechanism or until the flange 18 onthe cam plate i2 engages the flange 1| on the latch and pivots thelatter to the overstop position described above. Pivotal movement of thelatch, and hence the arbor, beyond the over stop position is limited bythe mechanical stop afforded by the engagement of the arbor and thelatch at the right hand end of the opening 56 as seen in Fig. 4.

Upon release of the control knob when the knob has not been turnedsufiiciently to reach the overstop position, or upon manual movementthereof from the overstop position, the arbor |4 is returned in aclockwise direction 'as viewed in Figure 4, by the main spring 28 actingthrough the clock mechanism. Upon return of the arbor to the zero orstart position, the fiange 18 on the cam disc 12 engages the flange 'llformed on the means providing a lost motion connection between saidcooking and tripping member and saidv latch and effective upon continuedrotation of said shaft in the same direction, to pivot the actuator 38to be quickly rotated to the tripped position by the action of thespring 48. Continued pivotal movement of the latch by manual 5 rotation?of the arbor beyond' the zero position is'liniited' by the mechanicalstop afior'de'd. by the'engagement at .the arborand the latch atthe lefthand end of the opening 56, as seen in Figf4.

VAsibest Zseen in Figures `1 and 2,' the bell crank actuator`38 isemployedto operate a'lever 8| which, in the illustrated form of theinvention, operateJ` a bell hainmer'. Thehammer lever 8| isifpivotallymounted ontheflshaft 3y 6 and has a lost motion connection'to'thearm 42of the'bell crank by reason of a pair of bent up tongues 84 and 86formed on the arm 42 which act to limit relative movement between thelever 8| and the arm 42. A wire spring 88 encircles the shaft 36 and hasits ends connected respectively to the lever 8| and to the arm 42 of thebell crank 38 as is shown in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. The spring88 acts to normally hold the hammer lever 8| against the bent up tongueor stop 84 on the arm 112. However, when the bell crank 38 is tripped bythe tripping mechanism, the arm 42 makes a Sudden sharp movement in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, thus throwingthe hammer lever 8| away from the stop 84 and causing an upwardly turnedfiange 96 formed on the lever 8| to strike the bell hammer 82.

A cup-shaped casing element 62 encloses the rear of the timer, as bestseen in Figure 3, and is secured to the mounting plate I 3 by suitablefastening means 93. Referring to Figure 5, the bell hammer 82 is mountedin the casing and has a shank 94 extending through an aperture thereinand an enlarged head 96 disposed outwardly of the casing. Adjacent itsinner end the shank 94 has an annular groove 98 formed therein formounting a leaf spring 106. The spring leo, as clearly shown in Figures5 and 6 is arcuately shaped and has a keyhole opening [02. This openinghas an enlarged portion IM, and a small portion 196 connected thereto bya reduced neck portion m8. The opening |02 is also provided Withlongitudinally extending slots O communicating therewith which permitthe neck portion |8 to be forced slightly open to permit the groovedportion of the shank 94 to be snapped through said neck m8 and engagedby the smaller portion |ii6 of the opening. The ends of the spring Iilengag the interior of the casing to hold the head 96 of the bell hammeragainst v the outer surface of the casing and thereby seal the openingagainst the entry of dust and foreign material.

The timer may be mounted in a bell |l2 having a skirt which surroundsthe casing and which may be engaged by the bell hammer head 96 to sounda signal when the bell hammer 82 is struck by the lever 8| as describedabove.

The actuator 38 may also be employed to operate an electrical switch.For this purpose one end ||f1 of the shaft 36 projects through movementplate |2 and the casing.

It will be noted that in the above described construction all of theparts are sealed within the casing. Only the bell hammer and switchcontrol extend through the casing and they extend through closelyfitting openings. For this reason the Operating elements are free fromdirt and foreign matter. Moreover, by providing a bell striking elementwhich projects through a sealed opening in the side of the case theadvantages of a sealed casing embodied in the aforementioned applicationof Rex C. Darnell are retained, and in addition the rear of the case isunobstructed` and `a bell havinga shorter skirt may be employed., v

While only one form of the invention has been illustratedand describedin detail, it is apparent that others are available with the spirit ofthe invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim: i

1. A timer including a clock mechanism, an element movable between astop position, an'intermediate cocked position, 'and a tripped position,a spring urging said element toward said tripped position, a supportingmember, a rotatable shaft extending through said member, a latchpivotally connected to said member in spaced relation to said shaft andhaving an elongated opening adapted to loosely fit said shaft and permitlimited pivotal movement of said latch, said latch having a surfaceadapted to engage said element when said element is in the trippedposition, a portion adapted to support said element when in the cockedposition, and a cam connecting with said portion adapted to lift saidelement from said cocked position to said stop position, spring meanseffective to pivot said latch into position to support said element whensaid element is in the cocked position, a cocking and tripping membersecured to said shaft for rotation therewith and including meanseffective, upon rotation of said shaft in one direction, to raise saidelement to a cocked position, means providing a lost motion connectionbetween said cocking and tripping element and said latch and effectiveupon continued rotation of said shaft in the same direction, to pivotsaid latch in a direction to cause said cam to lift said element to saidstop position, and means operable in response to the movement of saidelement to said stop position for stopping operation of said clockmechanism.

2. A timer including a clock mechanism, an element movable between astop position, an intermediate cocked position, and a tripped position,a spring urging said element toward said tripped position, a supportingmember, a rotatable shaft extending through said member, a latchpivotally connected to said member in spaced relation to said shaft andhaving an elongated opening adapted to loosely fit said shaft and permitlimited pivotal movement of said latch, said latch having a surfaceadapted to engage said element when said element is in the trippedposition, a portion adapted to support said element when in the cockedposition, and a cam connecting with said portion adapted to lift saidelement from said cocked position to said stop position, spring meanseffective to pivot said latch into position to support said element whensaid element is in the cocked position, means connected to said shaftincluding cam means effective upon rotation of said shaft in onedirection to raise said element to said cocked position and meansproviding a lost motion connection between said shaft and said latch andeffective upon continued rotation of said shaft in the same direction topivot said latch in a direction to cause said cam to lift said elementto said stop position, and means operable in response to the movement ofsaid element to said stop position for stopping operation of said clockmechanism.

KURT K. NEUMANN.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of thispatent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2:253:474 1,226,810Redfield et al May 22, 1917 5 2274,635 1,300,278 Kern Apr. 15, 19192292576 1,439,064 Bull Dec. 19, 1922 1,546,075 Horn July 14, 19251,795,362 Colomb Mar. 10, 1931 Number 1,851,593 Pastor Mar. 29, 1932 10155,380

Name Date Rhodes Jan. 24, 1933 Smith Aug. 20, 1935 Simmons Oct. 7, 1941Rhodes Mar. 3, 1942 Lux Aug. 11, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date GreatBritain Dec. 20, 1920

